Portland Made: Join the Maker Movement!

Monday, August 10, 2015

Kelley Roy, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Every week we feature a different Portland Made member, partner or story we find interesting. There is so much going on in the Maker Movement around the globe and Portland is leading the way. The Portland Made Collective is working hard to build this movement and we want everyone to be involved.

So, this week is a call to action.

For Makers Manufacturers and Retailers

If you haven’t heard of us, Portland Made is a digital storytelling platform and advocacy center for Portland’s Maker Movement. As fellow makers, you and your business are vital to the manufacturing renaissance happening throughout the US. Portland Made is a collective of 500 members in the Portland Metro area. Our member companies include everything from locally made home goods to surf boards and hot sauce. We would love to feature you and your products on our website. With over 5000 unique hits a month, we add value to your marketing efforts by spreading the word to a global audience. The Collective is here to help support you and your company in any way we can!

Call to Action: Become a member of PMC!

For Consumers

We are all consumers!

Consumers are the biggest and best investors for Portland’s Maker Movement. Everyday we all make choices about what to buy. Do we simply buy the cheapest item or do we buy something that is locally made and a little more expensive in hopes that it will last longer? If you have to buy 10 of the same thing in your lifetime because it is poorly made and breaks, is it really cheaper? What if you spend a little bit more money up front and buy something that is handmade by a local artisan that will last forever? It’s better for our economy, our community and for good ol’ mother earth. A great movie on this subject is Manufactured Landscapes by Edward Burtynsky. The next time you buy something, think about how many times you have had to buy it before, where it is made, who makes it and what goes into making it. Not everything can be locally made, but it is interesting to ask the questions and find out the answers. Being informed allows you to make smarter decisions.

Call to Action: Buy Locally Made Products

Call to Action: Subscribe to Portland Made

For Future Makers of America (that's you!)

Ditch the desk for a workbench and try your hand at something new. We offer classes in woodworking, metalworking, upholstery, 3D design, laser cutting, 3D printing, and more. With ADX, you’ll learn in a supportive environment where class sizes are small enough to give you plenty of time to work personally with our knowledgeable instructors. We also offer custom designed group classes for schools and organizations.
Everyone can be a maker!

Call to Action: Sign up for a class

To get involved or for more information contact [email protected].

Kelley Roy is the founder of ADX, a 14,000 square foot Makerspace where artists and designers work along side each other to prototype and launch new product lines. ADX is also open to the general public and teaches people of all ages how to make. And if you don't want to do it yourself, you can hire ADX to make it for you. For more information check out adxportland.com.

Portland Made is a digital storytelling platform and advocacy center for Portland's Maker Movement. We do 2 features a month on Portland Makers; connect makers with more local, national and international markets; connect makers with local professional and manufacturing resources; advocate for makers with politicians at all levels of government; work with PSU on an annual survey that captures the economic power of the Maker Movement; help makers find real estate; and promote Portland makers with local and national media.

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